The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-19
WICKED WOMAN'S Sin.
SHE POISONS HER HUSBAND TO
MARRY A COACHMAN,
Who In Txrn Attempts TO Kill His
Own Wife That He May We'd
the Widow.

NKw YoBK, January ia Delhi
N. Y, special says: The Hoops wife
poisoning case, which gave rise to a
sensational trial at the December term
of the County Court, and which ter.
minated in verdict OF acquitted oil
the accused husband, now has q sequel
in the opening of the CoroDeI's in
quest under circumstances implying
strong suspiCions that lately deceased
conspicuous citizen of this county was
foully doomed TO desth by poison,
The investigation is beirg conducted
by Coroner Barker and jury sum-
meued by him. The first step Yves the
exclamation Of the remains OF John
Griffin, Q former properly owner and
respected citizen OF Hobart, who
died, as was then supposed OF natural
csutes, on December %, 1886, and the
removal OF the stomach and portions
Of the inttsti0es. These were placed
in a glass jar under sea and on Satur-
dsy were sent 10 an expert chemist at
Albany for analysis. The surviving
widow ia a handsome aud lively bru
nette, who formerly moved in the
highest church and social society, and
possessed q far fame, unsmil ched by
scandal. Ia April 1885, as she testl-
fed at the late trial, she became
acqusinted with Arthur +. Hoops,
a coachmsn in the employ OF neigh.
boring family. He is well educated
and notably good looking mau OF 80
wears. Prior TO MIR. Griffen's death
Hoops was a frequent caller at the
house on ons pretext or another, and
the cordially between Mrs Griffin
and the coachmsn became a subject Of
remark. After the husbands death,
Hoops having in the meantime quit
his place as coachmlp, was engaged
pretty regularly In the fair widows
employ as gardener and overseer Of
her land cd property, and the relations
OF the two became a matter OF wide
notoriety. II was at this stage OF al.
fairs, and in March last, while Hoops
and his wife, who Is pretty, mild
hammered young woman, were hoard
ing at a Mrs. Rollins, that the alleged
attempt by the husband to poison his
wife occurred. Somebody, evidently
with deadly intent, mixed cyanide of
potassium with the talt In the dish
placed by the side OF Mrs. Hoops's
plate at the breakfast table. The au
thorites thought they saw a motive
for the crime in desire on Hoops's
part TO rid himself OF his wife, that he
might mary the widow Grifen,
and he WAS Indie ed and brought
to trial. At the trial the
widow WIS an interesting and self
possessed aud positive witness for The
defense, in repudiating any unlawful
intimacy with the accused man. Sic
admitted, on cross examination, how
ever, that she gave bail for his appear
ance for trial "beCsuse che thought he
was innocent" and that che had
transferred certain real estate to his
leading counsel, but she denied that
the transfer was in payment Of cou a.
sel's fees, The jury on the first ballot
stood eight to four for atqnittsl, and
aiterward united In q verdict of not
guilty. The verdict was not satisiac-
tory to many minds in the community,
and when Hoops went back direct
from the prisoners dock into the en-
ploy OF Mrs Grifien suspicion and
scandal were excited to redoubled in
tensity. The Coroner's inquest now
In progress Is the outcome Of the state
Of public feeling. The Coroner has rs
yet ordered no arrests, but IL is under
stood that il the chemists analysis de-
velops the fact that John W, Griflen
was killed. by poison one or more per
SONS will be called to answer at the
bar OF justice for the crime. The the.
DRY Is that Mre. Griien was TO pc son
her husband and Hoops his wifi ;, go
that the widow and the coachman
might marry, The coschmap, by ac1i-
dent, was prevented from carrying out
his part Of the agreement.